Gourmet granola bars: The perfect chaser to Halloween

You know the feeling: A little hungry, but don't need a meal. Want something satisfying, but not the same old. Want something fun, but not too junky. You know you want something ... but what?

After having gorged on trick-or-treaties, many of your usual snack options may seem less than palatable. Or a case of the guilts may be pressing you to up the nutrient value.

In any case, search no further. These bars may well be the answer. Healthy, substantial and besides all that, they are super-duper delish.

This recipe is based on one I snagged from an acquaintance some months back. But I make a number of substitutions that turbo-boost it into good-for-you territory – without sacrificing any of the yum-yum factor.

Gourmet granola bars

Grab these:

• 3 cups twelve-grain cereal (uncooked)
• 1/3 cup milk powder
• 1 cup nuts (chopped; e.g. almonds, peanuts, walnuts)
• 1 cup dried fruit (e.g. cranberries, raisins or [chopped] apricots, dates, figs)
• 1 cup seeds (e.g. sesame, sunflower, pumpkin)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/3 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 cup tahini (= sesame seed paste)

Do this:

1. Mix dry stuff in large bowl
2. Stir in wet stuff
3. Press into 9 x 13" pan
4. Bake at 325°F for 25-30 minutes (or until golden brown)
5. Cool slightly, cut into bars and remove from pan
6. Place leftovers in sealable container and refrigerate.

There you have it. Loads of texture and flavor. Plus, a panful means plenty for hiking a trail, stashing at the office or simply enjoying at home, tea in hand.

Tip: Lining the "lasagne" pan (that's what my mom calls it) with parchment paper will save considerable grief during clean-up. A coating of oil or butter works OK, too.